City Looks To Solve Drug Problem

April 18, 2014

During a Thursday meeting, Police Chief David Robinson told council members about the arrest of Jonathan H. Postlewait at a house on 21st Street last week for the delivery of a controlled substance, among other charges.

"I want to thank the chief for cleaning up a little bit of our drug problem," Councilwoman Alice Hill said.

"It is good to get some of that stuff out of here," Mayor Michael Gracik added.

However, Councilman Gregg Wolfe and Hill both said they believe there is much more to do in trying to eradicate drugs in McMechen. Robinson said he will continue working with the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, the Marshall County Sheriff's Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration to curtail the drug trade as much as possible.

Also, members continued discussion on the hiring of Kevin Wilmot, a professional engineer with the firm HRG Inc. of Morgantown, to help fix the city's water woes. Although council voted to hire Wilmot during the April 3 meeting, Gracik and City Attorney Brett Ferro said some matters in the contract need to be clarified before it is signed.

With the city facing about $3.67 million worth of renovations to the aging water plant, Wolfe said he wants to make sure the renovations will improve the quality of the water McMechen delivers.